"Without US sanctions, China's semiconductor industry would probably have continued on its old path as a pure chip equipment buyer, manufacturing for others," Lin said.
Other speakers backed Lin's remarks, saying that despite the tough environment, US sanctions had handed domestic equipment suppliers an opportunity, even in areas that have not had to face restrictions.
"We had a prolonged [period] whereby Chinese chip design firms wouldn't opt to tape-out in domestic fabs, with fabs not willing to use domestic equipment, and domestic equipment firms not buying parts from domestic parts suppliers," said Zheng Guangwen, chairman of Shenyang Fortune Precision Equipment.
"However, facing an existential threat from foreign sanctions, the whole industry has come together to work more closely."
